Since this track was cleared and identified with markers, mostly by club member Ian, we have only managed 1 (3 trampers) of 3 attempts to complete this loop due to cancellations because of rain. On Sunday - despite predicted rain and wind, a group of 8 completed this interesting and challenging route.
At last the Rocks hut browning track
At 8.40 we set off at a good pace to the Whispering Falls track. Kath chose the wrong route through the Hacket creek, kept her boots dry (carrying them) but got wet to her waist! The rest, chose a better route and variably got 1, none, or both feet wet.
The easy way across Hacket Creek
Immediately after the river crossing we headed up a ridge, initially a mod incline, but towards P447 it was very steep with some rock climbing, 1 hour of climbing, 240M from Hacket Creek. On this section the markers were scare but the route obvious, though vegetation, including gorse impinged on it. We had a break here, - it was windy and threatening rain.
Route finding on ridge after morning tea
From P447 to Beer bottle Flat, beyond P596, it was a slow climb over rocks, through thick spindly scrub, and a bit of beech forest. The markers on the exposed sites were faded and brittle and we had a few challenges finding the route, though nothing serious. We followed cairns through the tussocky flat toward a huge rock and the entry into the beech forest the track turning in a Northerly direction.
Leaving Beerbottle Flat
The track became easier, not such an incline and well marked and through a mix of beech forest and usual Ultramafic vegetation. At 1.45 (700M) we stopped for a well earned lunch. As we finished lunch, we donned rain coats as drops of rain had started, plenty of time to do this as we waited for Graeme to repack 3 times with items he had left out on the previous packing.
We had another 120M to gain, getting a bit steeper towards the top, to reach P822 on the Rocks Hut/ Browning Hut track. A steep descent to Totara Saddle and an even steeper descent towards Browning Stream. A washout of the creek, (possibly from floods of Aug 22) required a scramble down and up the steep sides of Browning Stream.
The low route Browning Track
We arrived at Browning Hut at 2.40, (Kath had predicted 2pm), had a break then headed out the well known Browning Track. The rain had hardly got started after lunch and we even enjoyed a few patches of sunlight. At 4pm the rain started and we had about 45mins of light rain. We arrived back at the Hacket car park at 5.10. 18km of walking 8.5hrs. All enjoyed the challenge of this very interesting and varied route, we had great company, and were pleased we had not wavered on the basis of the predicted weather, plus it was a way to avoid the post election analysis, for 1 day at least.
Participants were: Graeme, Tony, Maaike, David, Beth, Mike, Tessa and Kath (leader and scribe)